Velocipede accessory for producing noise



Jan. 6, 1953 y E. E. MEYER, JR Y' 2,624,156

VELOCIPEDE ACCESSORY FOR PRODUCING NOISE Filed Sept. 9, 1949 NEN 1N VEN TOR.

.5 Uw @E ATTORNEYS l Elmere B. Meyer, Jr.

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 VELOCIPEDE ACCESSORY FOR PRODUCING NOISE Elmere B. Meyer, Jr., Shaker Heights, Ohio Application September 9, 1949, Serial No. 114,749

(Cl. lifi-491) 2 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a toy to be attached to a velocipede and, more particularly, to motorsimulating noise makers to be attached to childrens velocipedes, such as tricycles and bicycles, for example.

It is the objectof this invention to provide a simple toy or accessory which, when vibrated by the spokes of the velocipede, produces a noise that, to the mind of a child at least, simulates the noise of a. motorcycle, automobile, motor boat or airplane motor. The device thereby adds to the amusement of the child who, in his imagination, is no longer riding his velocipede but driving a motorcycle, truck, or automobile or piloting a plane or speedboat. It is an advantage of this invention that, in its preferred form, it produces a relatively low-pitched popping or roar, rather than a, high-pitched rattle such as is obtained when a piece of paper or a stick is held against the spokes. Another advantage of this invention is that it may be quickly and easily mounted and demounted, but, when mounted, is securely and effectively attached to the velocipede. No journaled operating parts are required in a device made according to this invention; the vibrator element is subject to wear but may be easily replaced.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specication, claims and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the device attached to a 'tricycle,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, the device I is shown mounted on an arm of the front fork 2 of tricycle I. As will be apparent, the device is also adapted to be similarly mounted on bicycles, draisines, or other types of velocipedes having spoked wheels. As shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, the device I0 comprises a clamp member II formed of a wide metal strap bent to an approximate U-shape to provide a straight inner leaf I2 and an outer leaf I3 curved to return toward the plane of the inner leaf I2. A plurality of pairs of holes I4 are provided in the inner leaf I2 and a corresponding set of pairs of holes I5 are provided in the front leaf I3 so that, by inserting a pair of bolts I6 in corresponding pairs of holes I4 and I5 and tightening the wing nuts I1, the outer leaf I3 may be drawn against the inner leaf I2 to securely tighten the clamp II around the arm of the fork 2, the several corresponding pairs of holes I4 and I5 permitting the clamp II to be mounted on various sizes of fork arms. Lock Washers I8 are employed, of course, to prevent the clamp II from becoming unloosened during use.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the sets of holes I4 and I5 are so located that the marginal end I9 of the outer leaf I3 will project beyond the end of the inner leaf I2, and the end I9 is also curved inwardly so that the tip of the end I9 is located inwardly of the leaf I2 when the two leaves I2 and I3 are drawn together.

The clamp Il supports and grips between the leaves I2 and I3 a resilient vibrator strip 20, the strip 20 being provided at one end with pairs of holes 2| matching with the holes I4 in the inner leaf II and the bolts I6 passing therethrough to secure the vibrator strip mechanically in the clamp II. The length of the strip 20 is selected so that, when the end projecting beyond the clamp II is bent inwardly by the tip I9, it will be struck by the spokes 4 of the wheel 3 and be snapped outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thereby producing a simulated motor noise as the strip 20 is snapped by successive spokes 4.

The strip 20 may be made of various thin resilient materials having a sufficient resilience to withstand the repeated vibrations for at least a short while without permanent deformation. The suitable materials may vary from thin spring steel, at one extreme, to sti cardboard at the other. The most satisfactory material and preferred material has been found to be plastic sheet materials such as cellulose acetate, polyvinyl, vinylidene, and similar plastic sheetings varying from 15 to 25 or 30 mils in thickness. Whereas paper, metal, and the like appear to have a coeicient of restitution such that the natural resonance of the strip produces a relatively highpitched rattle, such plastic sheeting has a, natural resonance that produces a relatively low-pitched popping at low speeds of the wheel and more or less of a loud roar at higher speeds, a noise which appears to be most satisfactory to children.

Another advantage of plastic sheeting when used for the vibrator strip 20 is that it will withstand hours of use without fatiguing or cracking and yet is soft and exible enough so that the spokes 4 are not injured. In due course the ends of the vibrator strip 20 will wear or crack, in which event the strip may be readily replaced. To an extent the plurality of pairs of holes 2I permit the length of the strip beyond the clamp II to be adjusted and thereby tuned somewhat. In most instances, the clamp II will be adequately secured to the fork 2 before the leaves I2 and I3 are brought together in the manner shown in Fig. 2; by adjusting the wing nuts I1, therefore, the tip I9 will be moved in and out and the abruptness of the angle at which the vibrator strip 20 is struck by the spokes 4 may thereby be adjusted. Further adjustments .in this respect maybe made by binding the tip I9.

In view of the foregoing disclosure, of a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to he understood that it may be varied by those skilledl in the art and my invention is, therefore, not

limited to the embodiment disclosed but only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A noise maker for velocipedes comprising a clamping` strip having two leaves disposed inV superimposed relationship and extending in the same general direction, a resilient Vibrator ,strip carried between said leaves and extending beyond. the ends thereof and outof the planes thereof, means to draw said leaves together in clamping relationship with said resilient vibrator strip ELIMERE B. MEYER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the y.le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '561,667 `Kelly June 14, 1896 595,334 Paehtz Dec. 14, 1897 612,124 Scranton Oct. 11, 1898 1,448,545 Kroehle r- Mar. 13, 1923 1,510,805 `Smith Oct. 17, 1924 1,890,288 Graf Dec. 6, ,19,32 2,062,685 Tinnerman s Dec. l, ,1,936 2,164,663 Ottofy July 4, 1939 

